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Houzz Tour: A New-build Island Home that References Local Style
This two-bed bungalow, full of soft colours and natural materials, was lovingly crafted for a young family
Marie Méchin and her husband were born and raised on Île d’Yeu, an island off the coast of western France, and wanted to make a home on the island. Deterred from renovating an old building due to high prices, they found a solution thanks to Marie’s parents, who partitioned their garden to give them space to build.
With the help of Nantes-based architect Lucie Rouland, who has relatives on the island and knows it well, the couple began their construction project in late 2019. The result: an extremely cosy space designed by Marie and Lucie, who found a shared passion for decoration.
With the help of Nantes-based architect Lucie Rouland, who has relatives on the island and knows it well, the couple began their construction project in late 2019. The result: an extremely cosy space designed by Marie and Lucie, who found a shared passion for decoration.
The new building was designed as a single storey facing south in the local ‘Vendean’ style. Several ‘trade-offs’ had to be made as part of the design process; for example, Marie had to give up her dream of having an “old house with creaky floorboards and wrought-iron balconies” because of the sky-high prices for houses to renovate on the island.
And even by opting for a new build with a budget of €250,000 (approx £218,000), the couple, who had initially banked on a 120 sq m home, could only manage a footprint of 90 sq m. “We first had the idea of building a passive house, but it was far too expensive,” Marie recalls.
“Construction costs on the island are very high, as all the materials come from the mainland and are transported via a 30-minute boat journey,” Lucie adds.
And even by opting for a new build with a budget of €250,000 (approx £218,000), the couple, who had initially banked on a 120 sq m home, could only manage a footprint of 90 sq m. “We first had the idea of building a passive house, but it was far too expensive,” Marie recalls.
“Construction costs on the island are very high, as all the materials come from the mainland and are transported via a 30-minute boat journey,” Lucie adds.
Constructing the building put the owners and the architect through their paces, as works began in February 2020 and ran into the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. “We opted for a timber manufacturer based in Vendée on the mainland, but all boat crossings to Île d’Yeu were halted during lockdown. We had to wait for months to continue construction,” Lucie says.
Instead of the numerous small spaces and notched façades that come with a classic home on the island, Marie’s house had a simpler design – another way to stay within the budget.
“We built small trusses in the bedrooms and a traditional truss in the kitchen, leaving a double height above the dining room,” Lucie says. “We decided to forego visible interior framing usually found in the region, which saved €10,000 (approx £8,700),” Lucie says.
Instead of the numerous small spaces and notched façades that come with a classic home on the island, Marie’s house had a simpler design – another way to stay within the budget.
“We built small trusses in the bedrooms and a traditional truss in the kitchen, leaving a double height above the dining room,” Lucie says. “We decided to forego visible interior framing usually found in the region, which saved €10,000 (approx £8,700),” Lucie says.
Lucie designed the building layout with bioclimatic (based on the local climate) construction in mind to limit energy demand. “We made the house face south and included a bay window to allow the sun in during winter. A pellet heater is the only source of heat, which spreads to other rooms through the ventilation ducts,” she says, explaining that the island’s homes tend to have limited windows and that bay windows overlooking the street are banned.
Marie, who spent a sweltering summer on the island, felt the house needed sun protection on the south side and plans to build a pergola covered in plants in front of the bay window and add blinds.
Marie, who spent a sweltering summer on the island, felt the house needed sun protection on the south side and plans to build a pergola covered in plants in front of the bay window and add blinds.
While most houses on Île d’Yeu are white with blue blinds, Marie didn’t want a typical seafront look. Instead, she opted for anthracite window frames and door, with their smooth coating adding contrast to the limestone and roof tiles required for the Local Urban Plan.
Some ideas for the interior layout were also put to a halt. “I wanted an apartment-style plan, with each room having a specific function and a parents’ space separated from the children’s area,” Marie explains. “I found and adapted a floor plan in an architecture magazine, since it was hard to start from scratch.”
The couple wanted three bedrooms and two bathrooms, but ended up with two bedrooms and one bathroom. “Nevertheless, we anticipated a future extension on each end of the house,” the architect says.
Some ideas for the interior layout were also put to a halt. “I wanted an apartment-style plan, with each room having a specific function and a parents’ space separated from the children’s area,” Marie explains. “I found and adapted a floor plan in an architecture magazine, since it was hard to start from scratch.”
The couple wanted three bedrooms and two bathrooms, but ended up with two bedrooms and one bathroom. “Nevertheless, we anticipated a future extension on each end of the house,” the architect says.
After a challenging year handling the structural work, the two women made up for it by designing the décor, a stage where they truly had it in the bag. “I had an overflow of ideas, and Lucie helped me focus. She has great taste, especially when it comes to colours,” Marie says.
The owner wanted a home with the charm of the beautiful old apartments in the city that amazed her during her student days. To find the perfect balance, she spent hours scrutinising the materials and colours she found appealing, especially since the island was in full lockdown.
“I was really inspired by interior designer Marianne Evennou’s colourful aesthetic and warm, Nordic-style minimalism,” says Marie, who also spent plenty of time drawing each room in 3D and furniture to scale with felt-tip pens to help her husband visualise the space.
Looking for colours to create a harmonious look, both women fell in love with the paintings by the brand Bilboquet that now decorate some rooms. The hallway storage cupboard was painted in warm Florence, by Ressource, paired with a cement tile floor from Casalux, emulating a 1900s family home.
More: How to Choose the Perfect Hallway Flooring
The owner wanted a home with the charm of the beautiful old apartments in the city that amazed her during her student days. To find the perfect balance, she spent hours scrutinising the materials and colours she found appealing, especially since the island was in full lockdown.
“I was really inspired by interior designer Marianne Evennou’s colourful aesthetic and warm, Nordic-style minimalism,” says Marie, who also spent plenty of time drawing each room in 3D and furniture to scale with felt-tip pens to help her husband visualise the space.
Looking for colours to create a harmonious look, both women fell in love with the paintings by the brand Bilboquet that now decorate some rooms. The hallway storage cupboard was painted in warm Florence, by Ressource, paired with a cement tile floor from Casalux, emulating a 1900s family home.
More: How to Choose the Perfect Hallway Flooring
The kitchen-diner is the largest room in the house. It was deliberately placed in the centre of the building and is where the family has spent the most time since moving in.
Marie wanted to give it a warm, rural feel through the colours and furniture.
Marie wanted to give it a warm, rural feel through the colours and furniture.
The kitchen was chosen from Ikea and painted by the couple, along with the other rooms in the house. “We chose Une Petite Mousse, a khaki green colour from Bilboquet that pairs well with the slightly flambéed tiles – our starting point – and the walls we painted in the shade Cueillette,” Marie explains.
The walnut worktops add warmth. “The splashback is not yet installed, as Marie wanted tiles from Normandy Ceramics and opted to wait until they had the budget for it rather than go for the second-best option,” Lucie says.
The walnut worktops add warmth. “The splashback is not yet installed, as Marie wanted tiles from Normandy Ceramics and opted to wait until they had the budget for it rather than go for the second-best option,” Lucie says.
To give the kitchen authentic character, Lucie suggested terracotta flooring, which she says adds a “holiday home” feel. She especially liked this clean, natural material because it develops a patina and becomes more beautiful over time. While she occasionally bought old tiles second-hand, these are new terracotta tiles made by Vendean brickworks Les Terres Cuites d’Aizenay.
She also found a great solution to keep furnishing costs on the island low. “There’s a second-hand selling and trading group on Facebook called Yeu Troc,” Lucie explains. Bargain hunting on this site and in one of the island’s antique shops, as well as receiving furniture from family meant the young couple didn’t have to break the bank, all while doing something positive for the environment.
Marie was keen on creating a personalised display in the living area, an idea she’d had in mind for many years. She assembled personal items marking happy milestones.
“There are drawings I made in art school and pages from a book of prints found by my godfather, who lives in Nantes,” she says. “I got my artistic side and passion for antiquing and restoring from him. There are also a few designs by classmates.”
“There are drawings I made in art school and pages from a book of prints found by my godfather, who lives in Nantes,” she says. “I got my artistic side and passion for antiquing and restoring from him. There are also a few designs by classmates.”
The living room is incredibly inviting, with a slightly bohemian atmosphere thanks to the use of wood and natural fibres. On the ceiling, white panelling is a concession to the island’s traditional seafront style.
The bench seat is undoubtedly the living area’s key piece. This beautiful unit is made of pine and houses the pellet heater and bookcase. “Marie sent me a location photo of a window seat before the house was even built. She insisted on having one, and we made a customised model based on her idea and excellent tips from carpenter Martin Mallet,” Lucie explains.
Velvet cushions, Caravane, Cyrillus, and Madam Stolz.
The bench seat is undoubtedly the living area’s key piece. This beautiful unit is made of pine and houses the pellet heater and bookcase. “Marie sent me a location photo of a window seat before the house was even built. She insisted on having one, and we made a customised model based on her idea and excellent tips from carpenter Martin Mallet,” Lucie explains.
Velvet cushions, Caravane, Cyrillus, and Madam Stolz.
The chaise longue sofa is one of the rare new furniture purchases made by the couple, while the laminate flooring is decorated with a woven cotton rug with geometric patterns from By Meliana, a lovely décor boutique on Île d’Yeu.
They also made a few purchases in Nantes, including the Ikat motif cushions from La Cabane de Stella. Stools, AM.PM.
Lucie (left) and Marie sitting on the living room window seat, which also contains storage.
The main bedroom has a soft ambience, with a blue-grey panelled headboard.
Designed with a 10cm depth, it allows these lovely Bakelite and porcelain light switches the owner chose to be fitted on either side.
The guest room was built on the other end of the house. It now belongs to the couple’s baby boy, born shortly after they moved in.
Linen bedspread, By Meliana. Floral wallpaper, Monsieur Papier. Wall painted in Sudbury Yellow, Farrow & Ball.
There is a clever mix of old and new styles in the bathroom, with imitation cement tiles (from As de Carreaux) that extend above the bath. Wooden touches help to warm up the space, such as the Scandinavian-style shelf.
The owners didn’t want to use a plastic side panel on the bath, so sourced this wooden one instead.
The owners didn’t want to use a plastic side panel on the bath, so sourced this wooden one instead.
Marie also wanted wall-mounted taps and Lucie found this retro design at Hudson Reed.
The vanity unit demonstrates Lucie’s ingenuity. “This Malm chest of drawers from Ikea has Prettypegs feet added and a hand-hammered mirror from Cyrillus to elevate the entire piece. With a tight budget, you need a few tricks to make something more tailored,” she says.
The vanity unit demonstrates Lucie’s ingenuity. “This Malm chest of drawers from Ikea has Prettypegs feet added and a hand-hammered mirror from Cyrillus to elevate the entire piece. With a tight budget, you need a few tricks to make something more tailored,” she says.
Thanks to the Casalux cement tiles with a bright motif, this small cloakroom is bright and cheerful.
Although the family are now settled into their cosy home, Marie will always remember the exciting yet stressful time completing the project. She now has a very positive view of the experience. “The best compliment I got was that it didn’t look like a new house. That means I accomplished my goal,” she says.
She attributes a great deal of this success to Lucie, with whom she made a great team, as well as her husband for his confidence in her material and colour choices.
As for the architect, this project taught her a lot. Since she began her career, Lucie had become accustomed to thinking in terms of structure, with extensions, elevations and construction work; the Méchins’ home allowed her decorative flair to resurface. “Now I want to work on turnkey projects where I can go as far as the furnishing and decoration,” she says.
Tell us…
What do you like about this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments and save your favourite photos to an ideabook.
Although the family are now settled into their cosy home, Marie will always remember the exciting yet stressful time completing the project. She now has a very positive view of the experience. “The best compliment I got was that it didn’t look like a new house. That means I accomplished my goal,” she says.
She attributes a great deal of this success to Lucie, with whom she made a great team, as well as her husband for his confidence in her material and colour choices.
As for the architect, this project taught her a lot. Since she began her career, Lucie had become accustomed to thinking in terms of structure, with extensions, elevations and construction work; the Méchins’ home allowed her decorative flair to resurface. “Now I want to work on turnkey projects where I can go as far as the furnishing and decoration,” she says.
Tell us…
What do you like about this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments and save your favourite photos to an ideabook.
Who lives here? Marie Méchin with her husband and their baby
Location Île d’Yeu, France
Property A new-build bungalow
Size House, 90 sq m; plot, 489 sq m
Architect Lucie Rouland
Builder Maison Art Bois (Sallertaine, France)
Total budget €250,000 (approx £218,000)
Project year Completed in December 2020
Photos by Sophie Masiewicz
Completing the renovation of this 90 sq m home marked a very important moment for Marie, an interior design enthusiast who studied art in Nantes. At every stage of the project, she could count on the valuable support of Lucie (pictured), an architect and graduate in Fine Arts.
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